Pharmaceutics & Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Biography

Biography: Hervé Hillaireau

Abstract

In the context of the treatment of HIV/AIDS, many improvements have been achieved since the introduction of the combination therapy (HAART). Nevertheless, no cure for this disease has been so far possible, because of some particular features of the chemotherapies. The first main concern is the poor drug bioavailability, resulting in repeated administrations and therefore a demanding compliance. A second important challenge is the need to target the drugs into the so-called reservoirs and sanctuaries, i.e., cells or body compartments where drugs cannot penetrate or are distributed in sub-active concentrations. The lack of antiviral action in these regions allows the virus to lie latent and start to replicate at any moment after therapy suspension. Recent drug delivery strategies addressing these two limitations will be discussed: (i) strategies aimed at improving the bioavailability by increasing either the drug absorption or the passage of the target cell membrane, and/or by extending the efficacy time of drugs; (ii) strategies aimed at improving the bio-distribution by targeting the drugs to the reservoirs and the sanctuaries, in particular the mononuclear phagocyte system and the brain.